The Mary Tyler Moore Show/The Co-Producers

The Co-Producers
Season 4, Episode 18
Airdate	January 19, 1974
Production Number	7322
Written by	David Pollock and Elias Davis
Directed by	Jay Sandrich
Produced by	Ed. Weinberger
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The Mary Tyler Moore Show — Season Four

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The Co-Producers is the eighteenth episode of the fourth season of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and the ninetieth episode overall.

Starring: Mary Tyler Moore (Mary Richards)

Co-Starring: Edward Asner (Lou Grant)

with Valerie Harper (Rhoda Morgenstern), Gavin MacLeod (Murray Slaughter), Ted Knight (Ted Baxter)

and Georgia Engel (Georgette Franklin)

Guest Star: Betty White (Sue Ann Nivens)

Plot Overview

Mary is anxious for Lou to attend this week's production managers' meeting if only because her idea of a Sunday afternoon talk show is being presented, the show which she would produce if approved. Despite the meeting being canceled, an excited Mary learns that a pilot show has been green-lighted. When Mary tells Rhoda, Rhoda reminds Mary that the concept was actually her idea. A slightly apologetic Mary offers Rhoda, in return, co-producer responsibility for the show, which Rhoda accepts. The next step is to get Lou's approval, which he ultimately does give, along with some bad news: since they are under contract, the station manager wants Ted and Sue Ann to be hosts. Mary and Rhoda run into roadblocks in dealing with divas Ted and Sue Ann, who want to do things their way. Ted and Sue Ann take offense particularly to Rhoda's straightforward manner of denigrating their ideas. If the show is going to get off the ground, Mary has to use some tactics learned from Lou and Murray to try and smooth the waters with her talentless talent.